“Jesus Said” Is Not Always An Argument

Colton Burpo and his book, Heaven is for Real, have caused a huge public stir and responses have been both positive and negative.

Some atheist and agnostic types – particularly of the academic kind – have attacked not just Colton but also those who believe his story. It hackles them that so many can be so light headed.

Others have been uncertain how to assess Colton’s testimony. They don’t question the idea of heaven or the possibility of a pre-death visit but are uncertain how to assess a report like this and, therefore, reticent on the issue.

Add to that any apparent Bible reason to question the validity of his experience and doubts abound. One verse which seems to suggest Colton’s report can’t be genuine is John 3:13. Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus and He says:

No one has ever gone (ascended) into heaven except the one who came from heaven–the Son of Man.

There are two categories of people that refuse to believe eye witness reports of heaven.

One is the atheist-type who rejects any idea of an afterlife that includes heaven and God.

But, since atheists have very few standard beliefs and they suggest so many different afterlife possibilities it would take too long to consider their ideas.

We will save them and their concepts for another post.

The other category of individual who refuses to accept any eye witness reports of heaven is the conservative Christian. A few passages in the Bible seem to stand in the way so they approach the topic incredulously, intending to discredit the idea.

There are, of course, all kinds of so called death experience tales being pushed, many of which are strange and unusual to say the least but there are also reasons to expect temporary glimpses of heaven on the odd occasion.

Heaven is never given geographic coordinates but we know it isn’t far away. Paul said to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord, so our last breath on earth is the doorway to heaven and the transition is instantaneous.

The after-life is so close we shouldn’t be surprised visions of heaven or hell overlap our last minuets in this world.